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Tag: children

As founding chief of ophthalmology at Shady Grove Ophthalmology in Maryland, Dr. Anthony Roberts treats patients with a wide variety of eye disorders. Dr. Anthony Roberts has extensive experience in the treatment of myopia, both traditionally and through the LASIK system.

Known colloquially as nearsightedness, myopia occurs when the eye does not correctly refract light into a point of focus. Objects in the distance take on a blurred appearance, while objects in the foreground remain clear. The symptoms stem from an elongation or other distortion of the eyeball, which in turn interrupts the focus of light on the retina.

Myopia is a hereditary condition and most often prompts a diagnosis when a child is 8 to 12 years old. There may be dramatic change during periods of growth, such as during the teenage years, and minimal change in early to early-middle adulthood. In some cases, however, an adult with no previous history of myopia may develop the condition.

Myopia is most easily treatable with eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, some patients choose to undergo refractive surgery, which alters the shape of the cornea and allows for more accurate light focus inside the eye. Patients with myopia may also seek regular eye care, as the condition increases one’s risk of such secondary conditions as glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment.